‘Refurbishment of old properties in town is a lot more difficult than plastering housing over the fields of Guernsey,’ said DPA president Neil Inder.
Five one-bedroom flats have been created above the Clintons card shop and owners Kirkwood Properties said that these are all now available to rent.
The company has also started creating a further 10 apartments above the former Burton shop – which itself is set to be occupied once a deal with a prospective new tenant is finalised.
Kirkwood Properties director Eleanor Saunders said it was grateful for the amount of interest Deputy Inder had shown in the developments and he had already visited the site on a couple of occasions.
‘I have a huge admiration for the family who are taking on these complicated sites,’ said Deputy Inder.
‘And as I’ve said on numerous occasions, “a lived-in town is a living town”.
‘They are doing the really difficult stuff that others won’t touch and we should all be grateful for that heft.’
Housing Committee president Steve Williams said the committee was delighted to see empty and underused space over shops in town being converted into much-needed accommodation.
‘We are very supportive of making good use of existing buildings and providing homes close to shops, workplaces and other facilities,’ he said.
‘It provides more homes and helps keep town vibrant. We want to see more of this and we know other underused space, such as old empty offices, are planned to be converted.
‘This work has its challenges so we applaud the people financing this and wish them well.’
At the other end of the High Street, in the Commercial Arcade, another company has been granted permission to create flats above the former Body Shop and Seasalt.
A new door will be installed at number 25 which will allow access to what is proposed to be four bedsits and two two-bedroom apartments in the listed buildings.
St Peter Port constables have also welcomed the developments.
‘The constables in St Peter Port are very pleased that consideration is being given for approval to apartments over shops in town to create vibrant community hubs for residents,’ said senior constable Di Mitchell.